Obituaries
Former Pirates Infielder Killed In Car Crash
The crash also claimed the life of another former Major League Baseball player.
PITTSBURGH, PA - Former Pirates infielder Jose Castillo and former major league player Luis Valbuena died in a car accident in Venezuela Thursday night. The driver of the vehicle, former major league infielder Carlos Rivero, survived the accident.
ESPN reported the crash occurred when the car veered to the opposite side of the road to avoid a sliding rock.
Castillo, 37, played for the Pirates from 2004 through 2007 and split his final season in the big leagues in 2008 between the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros. He had a career batting average of .254.
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Valbuena, 33, played 11 seasons in the majors, including his final two with the Los Angeles Angels, who released him in August. He also played with the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros.
Castillo and Valbuena were playing for Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League and had just finished a game when the accident happened.
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Photo: Getty Images.
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